'I was just really scared' teen says of pit bull attack

PORTLAND, Ore. - A pit bull dog with a history of violent behavior mauled a 15-year-old girl in southeast Portland Tuesday afternoon.

Sara Bales received at least 12 stitches on her chest and five more on her left arm after the attack outside her apartment at Southeast 99th and Woodstock.

"There was no getting away," Bales said. "If I would have pulled back at all, my whole breast would have been ripped off."

Bales said she was delivering some leftovers to her neighbor's apartment when the neighbor's pit bull, Tyrus, jumped out of an open window.

Bales said she pulled off the dog, pictured below, and then handed him over to his owner by the dog's collar.

As Bales was leaving the apartment, she said another dog named Harley, a pit bull mix pictured below, jumped through the open window and bit her leg.

Moments later, she said Tyrus escaped from the home and joined in the attack, causing most of the damage.

"I was just really scared," Bales said. "I was waiting for them to get him off of me."

Bales' sister witnessed the attack with a neighbor and sons of the dogs' owner.

Bales said her mother and the dog's owner beat the dog off of her.

"When my step-dad got it around the neck and her mom was beating it in the head, it started to let go after a while," said Nathan Crawley, who said his step-dad owns the dogs.

According to Multnomah County Animal Services officials, the dogs are owned by Steven and Kimberly Van Rheen.

A sister of the victim said the dog ripped two large gashes on Sara's chest.

"Her chest was like, chunks, all over her," said Anna Bales.

The sons of the Van Rheens said the dog has attacked before.

Crawley showed scars on his abdomen from a bite more than a year ago.

Sara Bales said she can understand how the dogs' owners can still love their animals - even though they are violent.

Bales believes, however, that Tyrus needs to be put to sleep because of a history of violent behavior.

"The dog always attacks the window," Bales said. "Anybody that walks down there. The mailman won't even deliver mail down there."

Animal control officers removed both dogs from the property and began an investigation. The dogs will be quarantined for the state-mandated 10 day quarantine period.